United Arab EmiratesCosta Rica: Visa-free

United Arab EmiratesCosta Rica

Do United Arab Emirates passport holders need a visa for Costa Rica?

Visa-free

No. United Arab Emirates passport holders do not need a visa to visit Costa Rica for tourism for stays of up to 6 months.

No visa is required for a short tourist stay. Travel on a valid passport alone.

Source: embassycr.org (checked July 18, 2026).

RequirementVisa-free

Maximum stay6 months

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelNone, travel on your passport

Data as of2026-10-19

Distance14,119 km, straight line (~17h 7m nonstop)

Visa-free access to Costa Rica139 of 242 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? Costa Rica passport holders visiting United Arab Emirates: Visa-free.

Other visa-free destinations for United Arab Emirates passport holders

See all United Arab Emirates destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do United Arab Emirates passport holders need a visa for Costa Rica?

No. United Arab Emirates passport holders do not need a visa to visit Costa Rica for tourism for stays of up to 6 months.

How long can United Arab Emirates citizens stay in Costa Rica without a visa?

Up to 6 months, for tourism, ordinary passport.

How far is Costa Rica from United Arab Emirates?

About 14,119 km in a straight line, roughly ~17h 7m nonstop by air.

What currency is used in Costa Rica?

Costa Rican colón (CRC).

What is the emergency number in Costa Rica?

112 / 911.

What time zone is Costa Rica in?

Costa Rica (UTC-6).

What is the nearest airport to San Jose?

Quepos Managua Airport (XQP), about 25 km away.

How many countries can enter Costa Rica without a visa?

139 of the 242 nationalities this site tracks can enter Costa Rica visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with an eTA.

Visa rules change frequently and can depend on your specific circumstances. This site is compiled from public government sources and is provided for general information only. Always confirm requirements with the official immigration authority or a consulate of your destination before you travel.

About United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), also known simply as the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, situated at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a federal semi-constitutional monarchy made up of seven emirates, with Abu Dhabi serving as its national capital. The UAE borders Oman to the east and northeast, and Saudi Arabia to the south and southwest. It shares maritime borders with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Iran in the Persian Gulf, and with Oman in the Gulf of Oman. In 2024, the UAE had an estimated population of over 11 million. Dubai is the country's largest city. Islam is the state religion. Arabic is the official language while English remains the most spoken language and the language of business.

CapitalAbu Dhabi

RegionWestern Asia

Population11.5M

Area83,600 km²

CurrencyUnited Arab Emirates dirham (1 USD ≈ 3.67 AED)

LanguagesArabic

Calling code+971

Drives on theright

TimezoneDubai (UTC+4)

Nearest airportZayed International Airport (AUH), 28 km

Emergency number112 / 997 / 998 / 999

UNESCO sites3

Income levelHigh income

GDP per capita$50,274 (2024)

Tourist arrivals8.1M (2020)

Climate in Abu Dhabi

Warmest July, coolest January, driest May, sunniest May. Best time to visit: November, December.

Monthly climate normals for Abu Dhabi, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	22.8°C	16.8°C	69mm	297h
February	24.2°C	17.5°C	3mm	298h
March	27.7°C	19.8°C	7mm	317h
April	34°C	24.4°C	3mm	303h
May	36.6°C	27.5°C	0mm	374h
June	37.8°C	30.4°C	0mm	370h
July	40.9°C	32.3°C	0mm	351h
August	38.9°C	32.6°C	0mm	336h
September	39.2°C	28.9°C	0mm	337h
October	34.1°C	26.4°C	0mm	337h
November	30°C	23.1°C	0mm	300h
December	25.4°C	19.7°C	0mm	308h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

The United Arab Emirates or simply the Emirates is a country rich in history and culture at the entrance to the Persian Gulf. Boasting attractions ranging from the glittering and cosmopolitan cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, to the vast and unforgiving desert landscapes of the Empty Quarter, it makes an easy starting point for travels in the Middle East.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and Oases Areas)
Jabal Al Fayah
Wadi Wurayah

Full source list on About.

About Costa Rica

Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, sharing a maritime border with Ecuador to the south of Cocos Island. It has a population of around five million in a land area of nearly 51,180 km2 (19,760 sq mi); the capital and largest city is San José, home to around 350,000 residents and two million people in the surrounding metropolitan area.

CapitalSan Jose

RegionCentral America

Population5.2M

Area51,100 km²

CurrencyCosta Rican colón (1 USD ≈ 454.24 CRC)

LanguagesSpanish

Calling code+506

Drives on theright

TimezoneCosta Rica (UTC-6)

Nearest airportQuepos Managua Airport (XQP), 25 km

Emergency number112 / 911

UNESCO sites5

Income levelHigh income

GDP per capita$19,970 (2025)

Tourist arrivals1.1M (2020)

Climate in San Jose

Warmest April, coolest December, driest February, sunniest March. Best time to visit: January, February, March, April, June, July.

Monthly climate normals for San Jose, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	21.9°C	15.8°C	84mm	320h
February	22.7°C	15.3°C	12mm	332h
March	23.5°C	15.1°C	12mm	362h
April	23.4°C	15.6°C	152mm	302h
May	22.4°C	16.5°C	540mm	234h
June	21.4°C	15.7°C	526mm	231h
July	21.8°C	15.4°C	456mm	278h
August	21.5°C	15.7°C	1010mm	241h
September	21.4°C	15.2°C	1009mm	250h
October	21.1°C	15.4°C	958mm	235h
November	20.3°C	15.3°C	967mm	213h
December	20.9°C	14.7°C	260mm	299h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

Costa Rica has bewilderingly diverse culture, climates, flora, and fauna, and landscapes range from rainforests, to dry tropical and temperate forests, to volcanoes, to Caribbean and Pacific beaches, to high mountains, and marshy lowlands. Costa Rica is an exceptionally stable and peaceful country compared to the volatile region it's in, and is one of the world's top destinations for nature and ecotourism. Owing in part to its comparative wealth, it can be a bit more expensive than its northern neighbors in Central America.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Area de Conservación Guanacaste World Heritage Site
Cocos Island National Park
Precolumbian Chiefdom Settlements with Stone Spheres of the Diquís
Stone spheres of Costa Rica
Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves

Upcoming public holidays

December 1, 2026Día de la Abolición del Ejército

December 25, 2026Navidad

January 1, 2027Año Nuevo

Full source list on About.